Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20,339, Oliver Doane, Conn. Sea Service Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Com Sea Service
Doane, Oliver
S 20339
Mass
Carded.
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing entries.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing entries.

20 339 INVALID.
cur
File No. 20,339
Oliver Frane 4 Private Seaman War Vol
Act: June 7 th 89 9
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 110
[Arrangement of 1870.]

10.733 Name
Oliver Doane
of Molseb in the State of Maine who was a Small  Seaman in the Company commanded by Captain Doane of the Ship commanded by Mr. Shepherd in the Service time for 8 months Private 2 months Steward Conn Sea Service and Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 38 - Dollars 07 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of April March 1833 and sent to Col. D. John W. Washburn H.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $77.34 Semi-ann. allowance ending Sept 11, 19.33 $96.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by John W. Washburn Clerk Book 2 Vol. 15 Page 11

State of Maine.
WE Sullivan Bray a Clergyman, residing in the town of Warington in the County of Penobscot and Simeon Fowler Jr. Esq. residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Mr. Oliver Doane who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be 77 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion:
Sullivan Bray Simeon Fowler Jr.
STATE OF MAINE.
Penobscot ss. Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of October
A. D. 1832
Before me,
N. P. Atwood Justice of the Peace.
Penobscot ss. I Alexander Savage Registrar of Probate certify that Ad Atwood is a justice of the Peace for the County of Penobscot and the above is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have set my hand & the seal of said Court this 28 day of March 1832.
Alexander Savage

State of Maine.
WE Sullivan Bray a Clergyman, residing in the town of Warington in the County of Penobscot and Simeon Fowler Jr. Esq. residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Mr. Oliver Doane who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be 77 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion:
Sullivan Bray Simeon Fowler Jr.
STATE OF MAINE.
Penobscot ss. Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of October
A. D. 1832
Before me,
N. P. Atwood Justice of the Peace.
Penobscot ss. I Alexander Savage Registrar of Probate certify that Ad Alford is a justice of the peace of the County of Penobscot and that the above is his genuine signature. In witness whereof I have set my hand & seal of said Court this 28 day of March 1833.
Alexander Savage

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss.
Penobscot
ON this 24th day of October A. D. 1832 personally appeared
before the Hon W D Williamson Judge of Probate
of said State, Alvin Doane a resident of Ornington in the County of Penobscot and State of Maine, aged Seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Navy of the United States, in the year 1776 with Captain Armstrong and served in Col. the regiment of
line or troops under the following named officers: that in 1776 he entered on board
the ship Oliver Cromwell carrying twenty guns at New London Conn. that he served as gunner in this ship & sailed to Jamaica on a cruise and returned to New London after capturing two or three British merchant men - he was absent on this cruise 3 months & on his return was verbally discharged. - He again in 1776 entered on board the revenue cutter 18 guns and served as gunner under Capt Champlin - He sailed on a cruise to the coast of Jamaica and during his cruise captured two British brigs & one ship loaded with rum & sugar & sent the brigs into Boston & the ship to New Bedford. and after serving 3 months he was discharged at New Bedford verbally. In 1777 he enlisted on board the Viper 18 guns - Williams Capt - and sailed on a cruise on the coast of New foundland. We took a 22 gun brig from the British called Resolution - and under the command of Greeley & Strong brought her in to Boston. After a cruise of 2 1/2 months he was verbally discharged. He enlisted in the army of the United States as a private in 1778 - Capt Doane , Col Shepherd of Massachusetts Line - and joined the army at Valley Forge - He went as a guard to the baggage wagons from Cambridge loaded with arms & ammunition - the Guard was commanded by Lt Snow - He remained at Valley Forge till Clinton left Philadelphia. The army at Valley Forge took up their line of march & came up with the British at Monmouth. He was in the advanced under Lee - After the Battle he marched under Genl Sullivan to Rhode Island and was in the Battle at Quaker Hill . After the retreat from the Island - he was employed in getting the baggage of the army to Providence - He was then taken sick and went in the Hospital after this recovery he returned to his duty in the army and was honorably discharged - but his discharge he has lost - he served 10 months - though he enlisted for only 8 months - the whole period of his service was 18 1/2 months

I Amos Doane of Houlton in the County of Penobscot and State of Maine, of lawful age, testify, dispose, and say, that my brother Oliver Doane of Orono in the County aforesaid, enlisted with me in the Army of the United States in the Company commanded by George Webb in Col. Shephard's Regiment in the month of February 1778 and served in the army with me at Monmouth, Valley Forge, and Rhode Island until the some time in the month of November 1778 and served nine months in the army under that enlistment, and to my knowledge, he was honorably discharged. I further testify, that I have understood, and believe, that both Capt. Webb, and Col. Shephardson have deceased. I further testify, that I have received a pension from Government for four or five years.
I further say, that when I first applied to Government for a pension in 1818, or 1819, Captain Webb was alive, but since that time I have been informed, that he has deceased. I further testify that I procured Captain Webb's his certificate, that I served in his company eighteen months, which certificate is now on the files of the War Department, and I know that my brother Oliver served with me in said company just half of the time, that I served. Amos Doane
State of Maine Penobscot ss. March 22 d 1832 Then appeared Amos Doane, and was sworn agreeably to law to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed. Before me Enoch Drown Jus. Peace.

State of Maine
Penobscot ss. March 23 d 1833 I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Amos Doane, the within Dispensary for more than twenty years past, and that he is man of strict truth, and undoubted integrity
Enoch Brown Jr. Paus
Penobscot ss I Alexander Savage Register of Probate certify that the above is the genuine signature of Enoch Brown Jr. that he is a justice of the Peace for the County of Penobscot. In testimony of which I have set my hand & the seal of said Court this 25 th day of March 1833.
Alexander Savage

Oliver Hoane
Esquire
Parish of St. Martin
Guernsey
The claimant must produce satisfactory evidence that the Viper was a Public and not a Private Armed Vessel. This may possibly be obtained from E. D. Bangs together with evidence of the claimants services. His services on board of the Viper latter is not founded in by Law.
C. B. B. Thomas Present.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Oliver Doane Penobscot County State of Maine
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Entered 1726 Lieut. Col. Capt. Cook  

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.